Club News
Ressies Roundup: Part Three
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on June 30, 2010
In the final part of Ressies roundup we take a look at the final three months of what was a fantastic first season in women’s football for the team.
March kicked off with a comfortable home victory over local neighbours Aylesford who arrived having to hastily change kits due to a kit clash. They may well have stayed at home as the Reserves impressive goal scoring continued as they ran out 8-2 victors.
Again Kylie Overton continued her impressive scoring run and bagged a brace that set the Gills on their way. Megan Cavell also netted twice on her debut for the Gills, and there were also goals for Gemma Ridge, Leanne Stevens, Lauren Harris and Amy Russ.
On March 14th the Reserves embarked on their toughest game of the season as they took on Whitehawk in the League Cup quarter finals. In an amazing game the Gills took the lead through Jade Johnson, only to have Whitehawk equalise in controversial circumstances. The game then went through extra time and ended in the dreaded penalties. The Ladies ultimately lost 3-1 in the shootout to their higher ranked opponents, in what was undoubtedly the performance of the season from the Reserves.
The Gills took a trip to the seaside the following weekend as they ventured to Whitstable for a scrambled egg breakfast. The team bonding exercise appeared to work really well for the Gills as they picked up another three points. Leanne Stevens netted a brace and there were goals for Kirsty Goodall and Lauren Harris.
Crockenhill away on March 28th turned out to be the last big scoring game for the Gills as they hammered a poor side 9-1. Yet again the new look strike force netted five goals between them with a hat trick for Kylie Overton and a brace for Megan Cavell. There was also a brace for Kirsty Goodall and goals for Chloe Jamieson and Gemma Ridge.
The game billed as the title decider was up next as April kicked off as Ashford arrived at Martin Grove looking to put a dent in the Gills title hopes. It looked as though they did just that going 1-0 up but Kirsty Goodall equalised in a game that the Gills really did need to win as Ashford had games in hand. Ashford celebrated at the end of the game as if they had won the title and ultimately that would come back to bite them.
The Gills played an unusual fixture the following week when they travelled to Gravesham for a double header. Which are two games of an hour’s lengths with half an hour each way back to back and the Gills had just eleven players in which to do it with. They won the first game with ease 6-0 with a hat trick for centre half come centre forward Terri Reynolds and goals from Kirsty Goodall, Gemma Ridge and Kylie Overton. The second game was a tighter affair as both teams tired towards the end but the Gills headed back down the A2 with all six points after a 4-0 victory, thanks to a brace from both Overton and Reynolds.
Anchorians were dispatched easily as the Ladies marched towards the title after a slip up from rivals Ashford. The Gills were really motoring now and a polished performance saw goals from Terri Reynolds, Leanne Stevens, Chloe Jamieson, Kirsty Goodall and a brace from Amy Russ.
With two games left the Reserves knew that two wins would see them win the South East Counties Division One East title. Milton and Fulston put up little fight as it looked as though the Reserves would steam roller towards the title. A 7-1 win could have been more but the goals came from striker Charlotte Abbott and partner Megan Cavell, there was also a goal for Anelle Massey.
The final game of the season however was not to be as easy as it looked on paper when Deal Town arrived with just ten players. In a wet game which had question marks over it from the off as the pitch resembled a bog more than a football pitch, the Gills struggled. They created a number of half chances but mid way through the second half were hit by two sucked punch goals from Deal Town and went 2-0 down.
The Gills rolled up their sleeves and waded in for the best twenty minutes of football they had produced all season. In the conditions they started to batter their opponents and eventually the first goal came from leader Kimi Bolden. The relief was endless and they kicked on again and Amy Russ equalised with not much time left on the clock. A draw was still not enough and they pushed off in search of that winner, it came courtesy of Chloe Phillips with just twenty seconds on the clock.
It lead to scenes of mass celebration in the centre circle for the girls at the final whistle and it was nothing short of an amazing comeback.
One the balance of the season it was an amazement achievement for the Reserves to win the South East Counties Division One East title.